bound
I was
by fear and myth and legend
free
I am
by paths of my own invention
not soft
I came
to the ends of my contention
not hard
I thought
nor with disguised intention
returned
to grow
and found the soil lacking

and still
still same
those still same toxic words I heard
“fell this limb
it will grow no more” they say
and I
no longer part of the tree
will wither and die